Two Salini buses collide

19 Jan 2016 16:50pm

KEETMANSHOOP, 19 JAN (NAMPA)  Two buses transporting workers of Salini SpA crashed early Tuesday morning inside the Neckartal Dam project here.
About 80 people were involved in the accident, and only one person sustained serious injuries.
A few occupants sustained moderate injuries while the majority escaped with minor injuries, according to Keetmanshoop State Hospital senior medical officer Refanus Kooper.
We are able to manage it, he said of the load of people to be checked and treated for bruising and other injuries.
The accident occurred between the entrance gate and the crushing plant.
An occupant of the bus said one bus was stationary on the road during the time of the crash to allow some workers to disembark when the approaching bus, seemingly unaware of the standing bus, swerved to avoid a sandbank on the other side of the road.
A manager of the Italian construction company, Roberto Velo said the accident happened around 06h30 between a bus that was transporting night-shift staff of the Neckartal Dam project back to Keetmanshoop and a bus occupied by day staff.
He said the workers were immediately seen to by company medical staff on site and transported to hospital per ambulance.
Exact details as to what happened are still being investigated by the company and the Namibian Police.
Velo said his company was also investigating whether the heavy rains of early Tuesday morning contributed to the poor condition of the gravel road.
Police spokesperson in the //Karas Region, deputy commissioner Rudolf Isaak said on Tuesday his team was still busy with investigations into the nature of the accident and the injuries of all occupants.
(NAMPA)
PS/ND